[Video-Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:13:59]
[IN Q=We need ]
((WE NEED TO HAVE SOME PROPOSAL TO PUT BEFORE THE COMMUNITY, SO THEY CAN RESPOND TO THE IDEA, AND RIGHT NOT WE DON'T HAVE THAT FOR THEM.))
[RUNS=:10 ]
[OUT Q=don't have that for them.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

After months of speculation and debate on the future of Victory Stadium, members of Roanoke City Council are now pushing for action.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Victory-Stadium]

Council is still divided on the issue... but the future of Victory Stadium will be on the agenda at Monday's meeting.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and JoeD/Microwave;]

Joe Dashiell is at the stadium tonight with the latest developments in a lengthy dispute.
[LIVE=JoeD FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Keith... a number of factors, including site considerations, the proposed biotech center, and the arrival of the new city manager have conspired to delay any action on victory stadium, but some members of council are now trying to move the city closer to a decision.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think council]
[SUPER=01-Ralph Smith/Roanoke Mayor; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; 16]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Nelson Harris/Roanoke City Council; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=going to do about Victory Stadium.]
(([OPENS ON RALPH SMITH BITE]
[IN Q=I think council has been misguided]
((I THINK COUNCIL HAS BEEN MISGUIDED BY SOME BAD INFORMATION BY A CONSULTANT WHO WAS HIRED WITH THE UNDERSTANDING GET RID OF THE STADIUM, BRING US A REPORT THAT SAYS GET RID OF THE STADIUM.))
[RUNS= :14]
[OUT Q=get rid of the stadium.]

Roanoke Mayor Ralph Smith has made it clear where he stands. He believes Victory Stadium can continue to serve the city... renovated for much less than consultants have estimated.
But other members of council, perhaps a majority, are leaning toward construction of a new and smaller stadium... along with an amphitheater or other multipurpose facility.
In a letter placing the issue on Monday's agenda, Vice Mayor Bill Carder and Council Member Nelson Harris are encouraging council to take several actions.
First, request a recommendation from the city administration within 30 days.
Initiate a process of public input... insuring that Roanoke's high school community is considered a primary stakeholder.
Set aside 300- thousand dollars to expand the city's funding capacity for the project.
And until changes are made, come up with a plan to insure that the current field is well-prepared for athletic play.
[SOT]
[IN Q=The purpose of our letter]
((THE PURPOSE OF OUT LETTER IS TO MOVE THE DISCUSSION OUT OF CLOSED SESSION, OUT OF ONE OR TWO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TALKING AMONG THEMSELVES, INTO A PUBLIC FORUM, SO WE CAN BEGIN TO MOVE TOWARD SOME RESOLUTION ABOUT WHAT IT IS WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT VICTORY STADIUM.))
[RUNS= :16]
[OUT Q=victory stadium.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Joe D FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

City Manager Darlene Burcham has not revealed her hand Keith...
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and JoeD/Microwave;]

But she may have recommendation when city council takes up the issue Monday afternoon.

[M'ville-Water]

Martinsville wants people using city water to boil it before drinking.
The health department found the amount of soil particles in the public water system reached unacceptable levels today.
As a precaution, Martinsville wants its 7-thousand customers to use bottled water, or boil tap water for one minute before drinking or cooking.
The water is fine to use for washing or bathing.
More dirt in the water can lead to contamination from bacteria. But officials say there's NO sign of that.
Testing late this afternoon shows that the water from the treatment plant is back to normal.
And officials say the precautionary measures will probably be lifted tomorrow.

[Powell]

Kidnapping suspect Glenn Dexter Powell drove around Washington- -sight-seeing- -before he took his estranged wife and children to a motel in Maryland.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

That came from an F-B-I Agent today at Powell's detention hearing.
Before Powell allegedly forced Kimberly and the kids
[SUPER=03-Salem/November 16]
from her mother's home in Salem, Glen allegedly told her: "I'll kill you later, if you go. I'll kill you now if you don't."
[SUPER=03-Prince George's Co., MD/November 17]

On the way up to the room at Extended Stay America in Landover, Powell told the children: "If Mother tries to get away during the night, this will be Daddy's last vacation with you."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think the]
((I THINK THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTS A CHARGE OF KIDNAPPING AND WE INTEND TO PROVE THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Jake Jacobsen/Assistant U. S. Attorney]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=to prove that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

During the hearing Powell alternately smiled and shook his head in reaction to the Agent's testimony.
(------------)
[SS=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]

The Magistrate found probable cause to believe Powell had committed a "dangerous and reckless act."
Judge Glen Conrad ordered him held without bond for now.

[Martin]

A 16-year-old Carroll County girl now faces the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison.
A jury convicted her today of murdering her elderly grandfather in his bed.
Marya Jones has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=She was often]
[SUPER=03-Hillsville; :00]
[SUPER=03-Carroll Co.; :19]
[SUPER=01-Greg Goad/Carroll Co. Commonwealth's Atty.; :37]
[SUPER=03-Galax/July 1999; :44]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:18]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Hillsville.]
(( She was often tearful during trial.
But as she was led off to jail, Robin Martin accepted her murder conviction with composure.
(///// SOT /////)
[NATSOT]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE VERDICT, ROBIN? ROBIN MARTIN: SAD, BUT I'M FINE.))
[RUNS:05]
After more than six hours' deliberation, a jury found Martin guilty of first degree murder, felony theft and firearms charges.
The teen shot her 80-year-old grandfather, John Mesics in the face with a shotgun, as he slept in his bed in July of 1999.
She'd been living at her grandparents' home.
Family members and Martin's grandmother, Arneta Mesics, made no comments leaving the trial.
But Mesics DID testify that her husband and granddaughter had not argued before the murder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:49 - :54]
((GREG GOAD/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: THEY'RE PLEASED WITH THE VERDICT. BUT OF COURSE THEY'RE STILL UPSET AS WELL BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION BEING FAMILY.))
[RUNS:05]
During the one-day trial, Martin's attorney contended the murder was the result of a combination of things, including, her mental illness, alcohol and drug use, peer pressure and name-calling by her grandfather.
Martin said on the stand that she only meant to SCARE Mesics with the shotgun, but when he moved his hand, she shot.
Commonwealth's attorney Greg Goad argued -- and the jury agreed -- that it was no accident.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:43 - 5:59]
((GREG GOAD: SHE WENT INTO THE DEN, RETRIEVED THE SHOTGUN AND THEN LOADED IT. THEN WENT INTO HIS BEDROOM WHERE HE'D BEEN SLEEPING FOR TWO HOURS. IN ADDITION TO GETTING ANGRY AS THE NIGHT WORE ON. THAT LED UP TO HER ACTUALLY DOING IT. SO, THAT WAS CLEARLY, CLEARLY PREMEDITATION IN OUR MIND.))
[RUNS:15]
(///// SOT /////)
[SU 14:24 - :38]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: ROBIN MARTIN WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE JUVENILE DETENTION HOME IN CHRISTIANSBURG TO THE REGIONAL JAIL FACILITY IN DUBLIN. THAT'S WHERE SHE'LL AWAIT SENTENCING ON FEBRUARY 12TH. HER CRIME CARRIES A PENALTY OF UP TO A LIFETIME IN PRISON. MJN7, HILLSVILLE.))
[RUNS:14]))

[809-Scam]

It sounds like one of those urban legends.. but Lynchburg police say an ongoing telephone scam is the real thing that could cost you hundreds of dollars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Authorities are warning anyone who receives an e-mail or pager message asking them to call a number with an "809" area code to beware.
The number is in the Caribbean Islands, and scam artists are charging people 25 dollars or more for every minute they stay on the line.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:01:53]
[IN Q=So we just]
((OFFICER/WHIT CLARK/LYNCHBURG POLICE: SO WE JUST WANT TO ALERT THE CITIZENS TO BE AWARE OF ANY KIND OF PHONE NUMBER YOU GET WITH THE AREA CODE '809'. PROBABLY THE BEST ADVICE WE COULD GIVE IS IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYONE AT THE SEVEN-DIGIT NUMBER WITH THAT AREA CODE, THROW IT AWAY.))
[SUPER=01-Officer Whit Clark/Lynchburg Police Department]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=throw it away.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation is alerting police departments around the state about the scam.
That agency says the charges could run as high as 24-HUNDRED dollars a minute.
But web sites devoted to telephone and Internet scams say the charge is closer to 25 dollars a minute.
(------------)

[Car-Tax]

How important is the car tax cut?
The Gilmore administration admitted two weeks ago that lagging state revenues could force a freeze in the car tax phase-out.
It's halfway eliminated now.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

But now, the Governor himself is suggesting he might try to tap into the state's "rainy day fund" to keep the car tax cut on schedule.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:10:32]
[IN Q=Rainy day fund]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: RAINY DAY FUND IS ON THE TABLE, BECAUSE IT IS PART OF THE OVERALL BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE HAVE HERE. BUT I HAVEN'T MADE ANY DECISION ABOUT THAT. WE JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE ECONOMY LOOKS LIKE. THE RAINY DAY FUND IS THERE TO SMOOTH OUT GOOD AND NOT SO GOOD ECONOMIC TIMES. LET'S SEE WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS THE RIGHT ECONOMIC APPROACH. WE DON'T KNOW YET.))
[sot 14:15:36]
((DEL. MITCH VAN YAHRES/(D) CHARLOTTESVILLE: THIS IS ABSOLUTELY IRRESPONSIBLE FISCALLY AS I SEE IT. BECAUSE AS I SAY, THE RAINY DAY FUND IS FOR USE WHEN WE HAD TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. THIS IS NOT TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES. THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PROMISED. BUT HE CAN'T KEEP HIS PROMISE. BUT I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD USE THE RAINY DAY FUND TO BAIL HIMSELF OUT.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Mitch Van Yahres/(D) Charlottesville; :20 ]
[RUNS=:38]
[OUT Q=bail himself out.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=None]

The rainy day fund was created by former governor Doug Wilder, in 1991, after a recession forced him and the legislature to close a BILLION dollar hole in the budget.

[Cropp]

He's already under review by the Virginia Board of Medicine -- and now a Wytheville doctor is facing a million dollar civil lawsuit.
Darrin and Valerie Blevins are
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 26]
suing Doctor Craig S. Cropp for negligence in delivering their son two years ago-- negligence which they say resulted in severe brain damage to their child.
Last month, Dr. Cropp's license was being reviewed for his handling of 13 cases.
At that time, an informal conference committee made no determination of fault but chose to keep Cropp under observation for a year before deciding if further proceedings are necessary.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[Heilig-Meyers]

Two Roanoke Valley furniture stores are seeing sales light up the Holidays, but their parent company is only seeing red.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/File Tape]

Heilig-Meyers Furniture company reports losses of 600 million dollars during the first half of two-thousand.
The company filed for chapter 11 in September. Stores in Christiansburg, Martinsville and Rainelle, West Virginia, have closed already.
Stores in Collinsville and Radford are set to close in December.
But it's business as usual at the stores in the Roanoke Valley which are holding their annual holiday sales.
(------------)

[Brizendine]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC1:32:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
So many people have called concerned about a Salvation Army employee, that Valley View Mall managers are making sure he can ring his bell.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT Bell Ringing]
((NAT SOT BELL RINGER))
[RUNS=:03]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***KEITH ON CART***]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
On Thanksgiving Day, News7 featured a story on Don Brizendine, who not only works for the Salvation Army but also lives at the shelter.
He had to raise money without the familiar Salvation Army bell -- because his supervisors thought it was against Valley View Mall rules.
That changed when News7's story hit the air.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:05:10]
[IN Q=The lady who runs]
((DON BRIZENDINE/BELL RINGER: THE LADY WHO RUNS THE MALL CAME OUT HERE AND SAID THEY'D HAD SOME CALLS, INQUIRIES ABOUT WHY I COULDN'T RING THE BELL. SHE TOLD ME I COULD RING IT ANYTIME I WANTED TO, AND IF THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT THEY COULD CALL HER.))
[SUPER=01-Don Brizendine/Bell-Ringer;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=could call her]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Now that people can hear him, Brizendine says his bucket rings with the sound of more change.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:42:00]
[IN Q=Today when]
((SCOTT RAPSHER/SHOPPER: TODAY WHEN I WAS WALKING UP THROUGH HERE I HEARD THE BELL RINGING, IT MADE ME SMILE BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF MY CHILDHOOD. IT'S PART OF WHAT YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER ABOUT CHRISTMAS.))
[SUPER=01-Scott Rapsher/Shopper;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=about Christmas]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The mall manager says Valley View DOES allow bell-ringing because it's a two-story building and the sound's dispersed.
River Ridge Mall in Lynchburg -- just one story high -- still forbids it.
(------------)

[Student-Violence]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC52:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Two teenagers in Botetourt County are teaching their classmates to fight school violence.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
Allison DuVal and her friend Brandy Parks trained out of town to be peer educators in the national program Stop the Violence.
Today they showed a video to 142 of their classmates -- pointing out the warning signs of violence, like a student's slipping grades or social withdrawal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:37:58]
[IN Q=Mostly at Botetourt]
((MOSTLY AT BOTETOURT WE WANT TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF THING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. THERE ARE SMALL FIGHTS IN THE HALLWAYS, PUSHING AND SHOVING. BUT SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOLS LIKE COLUMBINE, THE MORE PUBLICIZED SHOOTINGS, THEY HAPPENED IN SMALL SCHOOLS LIKE THIS. IT'S NOT JUST AN INNER CITY PROBLEM.))
[SUPER=01-Allison DuVal/Program Founder;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=inner city problem]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A national study out today says one in four teenagers have come in contact with a gun or knife in the past year.
Assistant football coach Loren Johnson wants to protect these students from the things he saw growing up in Miami.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:21:39]
[IN Q=Right now]
((RIGHT NOW IF YOU WALKED ... BEST FRIEND.))
[SUPER=01-Loren Johnson/Asst. Football Coach;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=best friend]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The students held a candlelit vigil for the victims of school violence -- and encouraged each other to comfort and lead one another.
(------------)

[S-Steam]

The Roanoke Steam is busy preparing for its second season this coming summer. Tomorrow the team has scheduled a news conference to announce its new head coach.
News 7 Sports can you tell that the new hire is Steven Jerry a graduate of the University of North Carolina.
Jerry also is the running backs coach at William & Mary.
Last year he served as the offensive coordinator for the Norfolk Nighthawks in the Arena 2 league.
He also played in the Arena league for three years with the Albany Firebirds.

[S-Promo]

If you're already wondering what to do with yourself now that the Hokies aren't playing on Saturdays any longer - we've got you covered.
Here's Mike Stevens with a suggestion on how to fill your Hokie craving this Saturday night.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=@MIKE1; :00]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=...a season of surprises."]
(------------)

[S-Round]

The Express is in Dayton tonight for a game against the Bombers.
[GRAPHIC=ROUND HOUSE WRAP UP FULL SCREEN----18050]

Roanoke will try and push it's win streak to seven. Here's Steve Mason with another edition of Round House Wrap up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday Night; :24]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; :37]
[SUPER=01-Jack Capuano/Pee Dee Pride Head Coach; :52]
[SUPER=01-Kevin McDonald/Express Right Wing; 1:13]
[SUPER=01-Mike Peron/Express Center; 1:19]
[SUPER=04-1994-95 Season; 1:30]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Jestadt/Pee Dee Defenseman; 1:37]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=...Round House Wrap up"]
(-----------)
((STEVE MASON:))
((Pee Dee Pride coach Jack Capuano has known Florio since 1983. They went to prep school together and played against each other in college. During Roanoke's five game losing streak Florio found out Capuano was a true friend.
((:))
((:))
The Express has scored 30 goals in six games, production traced to the six new players in the line up and some fiery from the likes of Kevin McDonald.
((:))
((:))
Die hard Roanoke hockey fans remember Jeff Jestadt. Jeff's little brother Ryan plays for the Pee Dee Pride.
((:))
The Express returns to the home December ninth to play Johnstown, Steve Mason Round House Wrap up.))

[S-Mussina]

The New York Yankees have worked out a deal with Baltimore that will bring pitcher Mike Mussina to The Big Apple.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :]

Mussina has agreed to a six year contract worth 88 and a half million Dollars.
The righthander has a career mark of 147 and 81 after going 11 and 15 this past season with the O's. The 32 year old's E-R-A was three point 79.
Mussina led the American League in innings pitched and was third in strikeouts with 210.
(------------)

[S-Weinke]

The Old Man has beaten the Kids out for another Prize.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-ACC; :]

The Associated Press has named Chris Weinke the A-C-C player of the year.
Weinke returned to college after a minor league baseball career and was a near unanimous selection for the A-C-C's top individual honor.
He got 66 of a possible 70 votes and no other player received more than one.
Weinke was also named the A-C-C's offensive player of the year.
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